NEWCASTLE FALCONS centre Tane Tu’ipulotu will swap Tyneside for Japan next season, with the club confirming their Tongan star is on the move.

NEWCASTLE FALCONS centre Tane Tu’ipulotu will swap Tyneside for Japan next season, with the club confirming their Tongan star is on the move.

The 30-year-old was back to his scoring best in last weekend’s visit of champions Leicester, crossing for the Falcons’ only try in the 24-13 home defeat.

As Tu’ipulotu prepares for his final home appearance this Saturday against Bath, head coach Alan Tait was keen to pay tribute to the former Wellington and Hurricanes man.

He said: “Tane has got himself sorted with a contract in Japan, and I have wished him all the best.

“He has been a great player for this club – an exceptional professional and very popular within the squad, but he knows his own body.

“He has always fancied going to Japan, and it will be great to finish his career there, but he knows now is not the time to be talking about that.

“He has a massive role to play this weekend, like all of the players.

“I have no doubt he will put the effort in.

“I have to say he has been outstanding these last few weeks for the team and he is back to his best.”

Also moving on are South African centre Gcobani Bobo and Samoan lock Filipo Levi, although Tait admitted the pair had both been considered before being allowed to depart.

The Scot said: “It is no big secret those guys are leaving the club and they have known it for a while.

“They were all talked about in terms of retention, but this is my time as a head coach and I have brought in players I feel are right.

“I am still looking for others, and I have had to look at how I want to structure our game.

“That means some guys will move on, but they have all been superb professionals and we wish them all the best wherever they end up playing.”

He added: “Some guys are playing their last home game for the club, and there will be lads on the sidelines being involved for the final time at Kingston Park.

“It is a sad time for them but, on the same note, you have to be professional.

“Life moves on and, while I am sure they have had a great time at the Falcons, we can talk about their achievements at the appropriate time at the end of the season rather than in the week of a big game.”

Despite having retained the vast majority of his talent on new long-term deals, Tait admitted his bid to pin down England under-20 captain Alex Gray is still a work in progress.

He added: “Alex is a young kid so it does get complicated, especially with him having come through our academy.”